November 30, 2012

I can hardly keep up... now there are two new issues (adore HOME & Lovely Wedding Magazine) to read from the team at adore HOME. The above edition is just the perfect pop of brightness and cheerfulness I was looking for! Colorful Christmas is what they advertise, and that's exactly what you will get, yeah!!

A brand new interview with Anna Spiro, of Black & Spiro and the Absolutely Beautiful Things Blog, inspires a colorful and handmade Christmas enjoyed with friends and family.

These happy images from the store, makes me wish for a pop-up shop in South Florida :)

Anna is a master of color and mixing patterns, and this lamp with its fabric shade is a perfect example!! I imagine this in an office, how can you not want to be at your desk?

So, I am aware that the focus is on the pompoms... but I think the mirror is super cool too. The pale wood and all the carved details, not to mention the height.

Come pull up a chair to this BRIGHT table... I could make up a whole story about the menu I would serve, the people I would like to entertain here and the dress code... any suggestions?

Jingle Bells are a must at Christmas, and why not white...?

OK, so these above images are from the adore HOME blog, but there are others in the magazine for you to explore.

AND, while you are at it, check out the Style Trail of Brisbane's Eastern Suburbs on page 70, everyone loves a good shopping trip, right? Only this virtual one will not empty your bank account :)

November 28, 2012

You might not even have had the chance to browse through framework or NUDE Home yet, and already I am alerting you to the new Holiday Issue from rue magazine. It went live yesterday, but I only just had a chance to look through it this afternoon...

The beautifully decorated NY loft of Marysia Dobrzanska Reeves inspires me to start decorating my house for Christmas. She did a very tasteful and simple job :)

Even thought this image really does not have anything to do with Christmas, I really like the art / family wall!!

Overall a quick read with some really GREAT gift ideas, worth checking out.Natasha

November 26, 2012

So, I just found framework, via the Marcus Design Blog. Thank you for the introduction, Nancy! Nancy eluted to the fact that there were "other issues", oh my! I have now spent a little time going through the archived issues, and if you haven't seen them yet, you are in for a treat!! Here are just a few images to entice you :)

Issue One...

The art of saying Thank You... couldn't be more appropriate now that we have just had the Thanksgiving Holiday, and I am sure many of you should be writing a little note.... I am just saying :) Personally, I love sending cards. I enjoy finding just the right card!

Issue Two...

Vancouver artist Christine Breakell-Lee's lust worthy art is on display, along with a lovely interview! Get to know the artist, always fascinating.

Issue Three...

Who doesn't love to travel?? Framework has many cities covered throughout these six issues, ready to explore from a far.

Issue Four...

Fashion, fashion, fashion!

Lot's of great advise on how to build a wardrobe, what to spend on, who to make friends with... Fun read :)

... it's always nice to see the face behind the art, and to know what inspires them, how they work etc. I truly enjoyed this article. By the way, the art piece above can be found via Randa's Etsy store, I See Noise.

In every issue there has been a Shopping Guide, I have pretty much found something that I would love to have in each :). And you know what... the girls at framework have linked all the goodies (a-la-Lonny) so your need for instant gratification couldn't be easier!!

I also noticed some really cool Gift Guides. Now that the holiday season is upon us, you might need a little inspiration, and it's all here!!! Go check it out, you will be happy you did!! The Blog, The Pinterest Boards, The Website... it's all there! And if you are planning a trip to Vancouver, you must check out all these issues, they have so many go-to shops & local knowledge!

The newest version of on-line magazines comes from Scandinavia - so you just know it has to be cool!! - originating in Iceland, to be exact. With a name like NUDE Home, they are sure to turn some heads, don't you think?

If you can read Icelandic, lot's of cool stuff, but even if you are just able to view the beautiful images, you are in for some great Christmas inspiration in The Holiday Issue!

For those of you not familiar with this kind of Christmas decor... this is an Advent candle. It is lit every Sunday before the Big Day, starting four Sundays before Christmas. This image is part of the DIY section... so easy to do! Check out the House Tour, non other than Norwegian Nina Holst of Stylizimo has opened her home for the holidays, does not get any more Scandinavian that this :)

The first issue - The Danish Issue - complete with a shopping guide for Copenhagen, so they had me at Shop CPH :)

The world of Oliver Gustav is beautifully photographed, and with a lighter & brighter vision I might ad. Normally his universe is dark and does not always - in my opinion - look inviting...

My favorite piece is by far Heimili Stilistans!! Check it out starting on page 74. Really great mix of styles, wonderful vignettes, and a guide to "steal" her style :)

November 24, 2012

Really, I have tried to stay true to my belief, that Christmas decor and images would not appear in my home - or here on the blog - till December 1st.... BUT as you can see, I have already been looking for great wrapping ideas, and just wanted to share these with you.

While I blogged about these really great Acorn ornaments last year, I find these small, silver ones to be a great "little something" to add to a gift, a little added sparkle. I think it is just as important how you wrap a present, as what is inside. Why go through the trouble of finding the perfect gift, if you are not going to take the time to properly wrap it? Presentation, my friends :)

This year, I have also fallen in love with these creamy white, matte, porcelain Nutcracker ornaments! The fact that they are so understated totally won me over :)

So... I broke my own rule and wrote a little holiday post early... it will be the only early one, I think...

November 21, 2012

The newly opened Hudson I Grace on Sacramento Street in San Francisco, is the dream of Monelle Totha and Gary McNatton. I had the pleasure of meeting Monelle a few years back, when she was VP of Design & Merchandising at Williams-Sonoma Home. I featured Monelle's home here on the blog, check it out.

Creativity at work here... I am struggling with my words... do I call this "good merchandising", "color coordinated" or...? But who knew that a huge pumpkin could be this decorative and actually make you long for an orange cowhide rug at the same time??

The flowers, the flowers... When you do it right, there is nothing more fantastic than a huge amount of the same kind of blooms. These orange tulips would brighten up even the dullest, rainy, grey San Francisco day, don't you agree??

Yes, please! I LOVE library tables, I tend to get to this spot, and than I get lost for a little while...

Wonderful linen napkins. With 21 shades to choose from, you are bound to find a shade or two that you will want to take home with you!!

Proprietors and friends; Monelle & Gary.

I know, I know... I am trying to bribe you to stay a little longer, by "throwing in" the adorable-dog image... but in all fairness, the image was posted on the HG website, and just too cute to pass up! Bet the owner of the puppy is taking her sweet old time browsing, as I am sure you would too :)

November 17, 2012

... well; Like Mother, Like Daughter is actually what the title probably should be...

Are you familiar with the Danish brand SAND? Turns out that the daughter of Lene Sand, Marie, has returned from London, and now lives in this beautiful new home with her boyfriend. Both are heavily involved with the brand, Maire is in charge of PR and Gerard Ruiz is the International Bran Manager.

Every time I travel home to Denmark, I make sure to visit these stores, and while I love the clothes and the shoes, I am secretly wishing for some Home Accessories as well. While looking at these images I am sure you will agree with me, this family has a great eye for color, scale and drama!

Speaking of drama, check out that large Water Buffalo Skull, from Rue Verte. You may actually have seen me post on this skull here... I like the glossy Asian console table with the light washed, parquet floors, are they not beautiful??

This lacquer dining room table is such a strong statement, and could quickly overpower the room, but for me it works, balanced beautifully by all the natural light streaming through the windows... as well as the amazing grey paint colors throughout the home, all of which were custom blended by Marie Sand.

There is a special story behind this cool cabinet on the right... The cabinet has been finished with Eel skin, leftover from a shoe collection... I can only imagine the how amazing this is, and would have loved a close-up! (On a side note... My favorite pair of boots - considering I live in Florida - are a pair of high gloss eel cowboy boots from SAND. I have had then for many years, and have had them re-soled already :) )

The slightly darker color in the kitchen is a very warm grey, making the white cabinets and trim work really pop. I have always loved art in the kitchen, and Black & White photography is perfect for here! Rumor has it, that Marie has a love for photo books. After purchasing them, she removes what she loves, frames the images, and voila, instant art!

Even the terrace has been kept to the strict color pallet... LOVE!

If you would like to see more of this home, you can do so here.
Have a wonderful weekend,

November 10, 2012

The brand new November 2012 Lonny magazine is live. Starting the weekend off with a warm cup of tea, the cat sleeping at my feet, laptop open and enjoying the Apartment Makeover feature!!

I think I have said it before, but good work deserves praise, so here goes... I throughly enjoy all the work of the Lonny team, from the photography to the styling, the diverse selection of people featured and last but not least, I use the magazine as a tool in my work. So often I see a piece of furniture or an accessory in a magazine, and I am unable to locate, but the tech savvy people at Lonny have the links ready to go. Couldn't be easier or more work friendly, love exploring new-to-me artists and vendors.

... and a good little vignette always makes me happy! Even when there is one to many boxes... What do you think? Overkill, great styling, cool collection, or?

November 7, 2012

Interesting shapes and textures in these three images, all tied together by their origin - Morocco - and by color - silver & black. I found them over on the brand new Lonny website, their new image library is even better now :) Check it out!